Difficulty selecting 1st gear
#16
Registered User
Thread Starter
The interesting thing to me is that lots of people have this problem, but not everyone! Some people report all their shifts are smooth. Also, it seems a lot like a problem caused by wear, but in fact a lot of cars have it from day one. To me that indicates a manufacturing flaw.
Some random thoughts :
The problems when the car is cold could probably be reduced by using a lighter trans oil, though that might be too slippery once warm. I know the guys with older Porsches use various trans oil combinations to make the shifts not so clunky in the cold. But I sometimes get this when the engine is warm, just much less often, so that's not the whole problem.
It's possible the syncros are bad. This problem is a lot like the symptom of worn/damaged syncros on the 1st/2nd gear. But people get this problem with new cars, so it's not that the syncros are worn, but that they are defective. To me it feels a lot like the "balk" mechanism is kicking in and locking out the gear when it doesn't need to.
Another possibility is that the 1nd/2nd gear shifter linkage is not adjusted quite right, or maybe the cable is not designed right so it occasionally has some bad flex or something.
Guys talking about worn syncros on older cars :
https://rennlist.com/forums/911-foru...n-synchro.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/911-foru...r-synchro.html
Fluids fix trouble getting into 1st/2nd in the cold :
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...d-syncros.html
Old 911 has the same problem, difficulty getting into 1st gear - adjusting the shift cables fixes it :
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...provements.htm
(but this is getting beyond my level of mechanical expertise)
Some random thoughts :
The problems when the car is cold could probably be reduced by using a lighter trans oil, though that might be too slippery once warm. I know the guys with older Porsches use various trans oil combinations to make the shifts not so clunky in the cold. But I sometimes get this when the engine is warm, just much less often, so that's not the whole problem.
It's possible the syncros are bad. This problem is a lot like the symptom of worn/damaged syncros on the 1st/2nd gear. But people get this problem with new cars, so it's not that the syncros are worn, but that they are defective. To me it feels a lot like the "balk" mechanism is kicking in and locking out the gear when it doesn't need to.
Another possibility is that the 1nd/2nd gear shifter linkage is not adjusted quite right, or maybe the cable is not designed right so it occasionally has some bad flex or something.
Guys talking about worn syncros on older cars :
https://rennlist.com/forums/911-foru...n-synchro.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/911-foru...r-synchro.html
Fluids fix trouble getting into 1st/2nd in the cold :
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...d-syncros.html
Old 911 has the same problem, difficulty getting into 1st gear - adjusting the shift cables fixes it :
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...provements.htm
(but this is getting beyond my level of mechanical expertise)
#17
I have this problem when cold - but I have a very easy fix that works for me.
Gently try to engage first, when you meet resistance rev up with the throttle, keep gentle pressure on the shifter, and it will ease in nice and smooth at some point as the revs fall back to normal.
Give it a try.
Once warm shifting is fine.
Gently try to engage first, when you meet resistance rev up with the throttle, keep gentle pressure on the shifter, and it will ease in nice and smooth at some point as the revs fall back to normal.
Give it a try.
Once warm shifting is fine.
The following users liked this post:
stateofmike (12-17-2022)
#18
I have this problem when cold - but I have a very easy fix that works for me.
Gently try to engage first, when you meet resistance rev up with the throttle, keep gentle pressure on the shifter, and it will ease in nice and smooth at some point as the revs fall back to normal.
Give it a try.
Once warm shifting is fine.
Gently try to engage first, when you meet resistance rev up with the throttle, keep gentle pressure on the shifter, and it will ease in nice and smooth at some point as the revs fall back to normal.
Give it a try.
Once warm shifting is fine.
#19
Racer
Join Date: Nov 2009
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Yes, my 2007 C2S does this, and I can remember my old VW bugs, bus, thing all doing the same thing. gears 2 and higher are synchronized, 1st gear is not synchronized. It is normal for these transmissions to feel this way. It mostly happens when the car is stopped. You should only have slight resistance putting it into gear if the car is rolling.
#20
this has happend to every manual car ive owned,,,vw carrodo X2 e46 m3.. honda prelude. acura cl type s.... what i found to work better is before takin off put it in 2nd gear then 1st..for anyone that ever had a grindy reverse gear it would be better to put the car in 1st than reverse...same concept i found that putting 2nd in then 1st helped out a lot but never totally fixed it..just a lot better..
#24
Registered User
Thread Starter
Yes, my 2007 C2S does this, and I can remember my old VW bugs, bus, thing all doing the same thing. gears 2 and higher are synchronized, 1st gear is not synchronized. It is normal for these transmissions to feel this way. It mostly happens when the car is stopped. You should only have slight resistance putting it into gear if the car is rolling.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...nny_repair.htm
Porsche did invent the syncro, after all! It is a different syncro though, much harder than higher gears.
This problem does remind me of driving a VW bus though. Wiggling the stick, double clutching, grinding noises, the horror!
#25
Burning Brakes
I've never had it happen with my C4, and I know my friend with a C2S has not had this happen either (he wouldn't tolerate it). I had tough shifting into 3rd for the first 1000 miles, but that seemed to work itself out.
#27
Poseur
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Recently I have had the opportunity to drive several older Porsches (356 from 64 , and a 928 from 80) and the shifter in my 06 cabriolet is by far the best, most positive shifter I have even experienced in a Porsche. It's only my 4th Porsche, but the shifting is first rate. It can be a little trouble in the cold (particularly with the short shifters, which I have) but just take your time, and NEVER FORCE IT.
In all my decades of Porsche driving I have NEVER had to do a thing to any of my transmissions. They are first rate if not abused. And many have been taken over 100,000 miles.
In all my decades of Porsche driving I have NEVER had to do a thing to any of my transmissions. They are first rate if not abused. And many have been taken over 100,000 miles.
#28
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Orange county,CA
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i have that problem, i also noticed if i am pushing the car a little hard and i am on third and am going on to a turn and want to shift into one, it wont go to 1 at all unless i really force it too or reset by going back into neutral then going back to 1 again
#29
Nordschleife Master
That's normal it just has to be finessed. If 1st refuses to engage, engage second, move to N, release the clutch, clutch back and 1st engages now. This is very common. I am surprised that all vocal proponents of manual as the only valid sports car tranny do not know this.